1975-02-18-SC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 57 February 18, 1975 The regular meeting of the Lexington School Committee came to order at 7:30 p.m. at Jonas Clarke Jr. High School. Present were Mesdames Berchtold, Davison, and Swanson, Messrs. Currier, Rotberg, and Wadsworth. Also present were Messrs. Barnes, _ Maclnnes, Spiris, Dr. Ponderer, Dr. Fobert and Mss. Cummings. Renee Cochin read a prepared statement concerning the recent decision PUBLIC of the school committee not to extend bus service to those students living PARTICIPATION more than 1 1/2 miles from school. She questioned the necessity to take a vote at a special session which she claimed was not publicized. She hoped the school committee would reconsider the vote at another time. Barbara Daugherty commented on Mr. Richard Rosane's unpublicized appearance at a previous meeting. She was told that this was an inadvertent slipup and that the public will have another opportunity to meet with Mr. Rosane. The minutes of 2/10/75 were discussed and it was MINUTES 2/10/75 VOTED: To accept these minutes as amended. (Davison, Swanson, Unanimous) The Schedule of Payments were discussed, and upon the recommendation of SCHEDULE OF the Superintendent of Schools, it was PAYMENTS VOTED: To accept the Schedule of Payments as presented. (Davison, Swanson, Unan.) (See next page) Dr. Fobert and the school committee proceeded to analyze the proposed budget figures for 1975-76. Mrs. Davison questioned his decision not to add a speech therapist for next year. She was concerned about our ability ti fill our obligations to parents and students. Dr. Fobert reviewed our resources regarding our therapists and pointed out that Lexington ranks No. 2 on the list for speech therapists in the MACOBS Study. Mrs. Berchtold reminded the committee that they had already looked at many alternatives and said even if we take Alternative #1, it would make a slight increase in improving the teacher/pupil ratio. THE BUDGET Mrs. Davison then made a MOTION which was seconded by Mr. Rotberg, to amend Alternative #1 to reduce staff by 14 and add 1 speech therapist. A vote was called after this MOTION was discussed. (Rotberg, Davison,. YES, Wadsworth, Swanson, Berchtold, OPPOSED) Mrs. Swanson presented a list of figures supporting her recommendation to set a figure of $14,283,211 which would be an increase of 8.5% over last year. She described areas where we could cut back to meet this figure. These areas included science specialists, library purchases account and sabbatical leaves. Dr. Fobert noted that if we reduce the library figure we could also lose $15,000 of federal money which we have been receiving to improve the libraries.